Box-stitching machine



C. C. MENGEL.

BOX STITCHING MACHlNE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 9.1919.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

61 2:2722; 6. ffezgeg C. C. MENGEL BOX STITCHING MACHlNE. APPLICATION FILED. JULY 9,1919.

1,373,753. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- herein, the same forming the subject mat-.

UNITED STATES CHARLES C. MENGEL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Box-s'rrrcnms MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed July 9, 1919. Serial No. 300,625.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. MnNenL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefierson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Box- Stitching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to box stitching machines, and has reference more particularly. to those machines employed to stitch or staple fiber board boxes or containers.

The machine is designed more especially for the stitching of boxes in such a manner that there is no bulging of the various box or closureelements thereof, and, further, that the various infolded and overlying elements are so stitched together as to preclude any unauthorized opening of the box without such fact being apparent. Moreover, the machine is. especially adapted to the stitching and sealing of filled containers. The machine in a sense is an improvement upon that shown and claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,17 0,002, dated February 1, 1916. a a

One embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the annexed drawings, wherein e Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine with the anvil positioned with reference to the container to be stitched with two of the flaps partially closed and the other two turned back; a

Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view, the box flaps being shown in their closed position with the stitching head positioned over one end of the box;

Fig. 3 a horizontal sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 a transverse vertical sectional view on the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

The'container, to which no claim is made ter of an application filed by me on July 9, 191.9,Serial No. 309,624, is designated by 1, and in the present instance is shown with two end flaps 2 and 3, each of which isprovided with a slot or opening 4 adjacent that end where it is hinged to the box body, and

with two side flaps 5 and 6.

To stitch a filled box thus formed without bulging the flaps and without crushing down the side walls thereof and injuring the contents of the box, I employ a thin anvil. which takes the form of a long steel bar designated by 7 the outer free end of which is preferably beveled to facilitate its 1' I passage through the slots 1 in the flaps 2 and 3. Said bar at its inner end is secured to a block 8 preferably mounted to turn sllghtly. about a vertical pivot 9 which passes downward into a head block 10 pivotally mounted at .11 for adjustment on the maln frame 12 of the stitching machine.

The stitching head, which maybe of any approved type, is denoted by 13. Located in advance of the supporting standard of the stitching machine, and beneath the anvil, is a table 14, having at its outer end extended ways 15 and 16, each of which at its outer end is provided with an upstanding stop 17. The inner adjacent faces of said ways are parallel and stand, respectively, in line with two rows or series of rollers 18, 19,

mounted on vertically disposed studs secured in the table top. Said ways and rollers form the guideway forthe, box or container supporting platform 20 which is provided with a depending projection 21.

which functions with the rollers and ways and serves to hold the platform against lateral shifting while permitting it to be moved endwise in the operation of threading or passing the anvil through the slots 1, and in the reverse direction when the stitching operations are being effected.

Inasmuch as the anvil is thin, andtherefore flexible to a greater or lessdegree, it,

is essential that it be supported at each end, or immediately adjacent to the end walls of the container. To accomplish thisand to hold or clamp the container to the shiftable platform, the platform at its inner end is provided with a fixed standard 22 which at its upper end is reduced in thickness and provided with a fixed. and rigid anvil supporting member, shown in the presentinstance as aplate 23 which, at its upper portion is inclined forwardly. The supporting member 28 is of a heightto contact with the under face. of the anvil when the anvil stands in its normal position and the incli- I nation of the support brings it close to the face of the box body or wall and thus re lieves the wall of any crushing action which would otherwise take place due to the operation of the stitching mechanism.

The platform is provided with a suitable undercut way or channel in its upper face and a second standard. 2 1 is mounted thereon. the standard being movable manually along the way and adapted to be locked in its adjusted position by any suitable clamping mechanism, as, for instance a cam lever 25.

Said standard 24 carries at its upper end an anvil supporting member 26 similar to the support 23 and adapted to function with the anvil in a similar manner. Said anvil supporting members may be slotted, as at 27, Fig. 4, for the purpose of vertical adjustment so as to always insure a fair bearing of the supports against the under face of the anvil. V

i In the use of the machine, the platform is drawnout on the ways 15 and 16,. the con tainer placed on the platform, and the anvil is then passed through'the slots 4 (or over the flaps 2 and 3,. should it be desired to stitch the overlapping flaps 5 and 6 alone),

the flaps 5 and'6 then turned in, and the movable abutment advanced so as toclamp the box and to bring the support 26 against the adjacent wall of the box and beneath the anvil. The/parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time it will be seen that the anvil which is fixed at its inner end is likewise supported at two other points so'that, while it is thin it will not flex to any appreciable degree under the impact of the stitching mechanism when the stitching is being effected. By making the anvil supports adjustable as to height and likewise providingsuch adjustment for the table the machine can be arranged to operate upon containers of different sizes.

It has been found in operation that the use of a thin anvil thus supported and sustained admits of the stitching of the box without harm to the contents ofthe box and without any perceptible bulging of'the flaps. li foreover there is no crushing of thebox walls.

By the use of the thin anvil immediately supported adjacent to the box walls one is enabled to seal the container without any perceptible bulging of the flaps, and particularly is this so where the anvil is threaded through the slots 0r openings formed in thoseflaps which are first turned in. Where this latter operation is effected the box or container is sealed in a manner which makes it pilfer proof in that the inner flaps are stitched directly to the overlying flaps which mam overlap each other; the stitching extending from one end of the box to the other. The stitching mechanism may be started and stopped in its operation by any suitable hand or foot controller mechanism,

but as such are common in the art the same is not illustrated.

. What is claimed is, r

1. In a box stitching machine, the combination of a stitching mechanism; an underlying thin anvil; box supporting means;

and a pair of supports for said anvil arranged to be positioned on opposite sides of the box; said supports being relatively adjustable and each adapted to contact the under face of the anvil immediately adjacent ing relatively adjustable and each adapted to Contact the under face of the anvil immediately adjacent the proximate face of the box wall.

3. In a box stitching machine, the combination of a stitching mechanism; athin bar anvil secured at one end to the'fra ne of.

the machine and underlying the anvil; a table; a platform mounted for reciprocation on the table beneath the anvil; and a pair of combined box clamps and anvil supporting members mounted on the platform.

4. In a box stitching machine, the combination of a stitching mechanism; a thin bar anvil secured at one end to the frame of the machine and underlying the anvil; a table; a platform mounted for reciprocation on the table beneath the anvil; and a pair of V relatively adjustable combined box clamps and anvil supporting members mounted on the platform;

5. In a box stitching machine, the combination of a stitching mechanism; an underlying bar anvil; and a pair of supports for said anvil, saidsu oports inclining inwardly toward each 0t er and adapted to contact the under face of the anvil immediately adjacent the proximate face of the wall of the box being stitched. V

V 6. In a box stitching machine, the combination of a stitching mechanism; a thin bar anvil attached at one end to the frame-of the machine and extending outwardly therefrom beneath the stitching mechanism a table; a platform mounted for endwise movement on the table beneath the anvil; a fixed standard secured at the inner, end of the platform; an inclined plate like member rigidly aiiixed to j the upper end of the standard and adapted to contact the under face of the anvil; a. second standard mounted for adjustment on the opposite end of the platform; means for securing it in its adjusted position with relation to the other standard; and an inclined plate like member likewise carried by said second standard.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES C. MENGEL. 

